Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Turbo Lovers make Halloween ‘Outstanding’

By Sarah Poulton

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YOUNGSTOWN — With a newly-released album and an even newer drummer, Turbo Lovers will be up to their old tricks and treats this Halloween.

Bradlee Van Lisko, guitarist and vocalist, said Turbo Lover’s recent release, “Outstanding,” is somewhat of a milestone for him. While Turbo Lovers have been on the scene since 2004, this is the first recording Lisko did with his band, and not hired musicians. “Outstanding” was recorded at Mars Recording Studio in Streetsboro in July, except “I am the Swagger,” which was recorded at Mars in 2006.

Pittsburgh-based label, Cracked Piston Recordings, is handling the distribution for “Outstanding” as well as Turbo Lovers’ other albums, “No Longer Attractive” (2004) and “Cock of the Walk” (2006).

“[Outstanding’s] all over and pretty spread out,” Lisko said. “Whatever record store decides they like it will pick it up, so it’s available, but I have no idea where.”

“Outstanding” features a variety of songs that showcases Lisko’s ability as a singer, composer and musician. As the primary songwriter, his influences of AC/DC, Iron Maiden and The Sex Pistols show through in recently written songs, “4 a.m.” and “I Want it All,” as well as in “On My Way,” which made it’s debut on “No Longer Attractive.”

Lisko said “Rock ‘n’ Roll Son of a Bitch,” which is generally used to open or close the show, is always really fun because it’s a fan favorite. He said he wrote that song when he was 16 years old while playing with his first band, Gauntlet.

“Every band I’ve been in has recorded that song,” Lisko said. “...Every new person I work with has a new take on the song.”

While “Rock ‘n’ Roll Son of a Bitch” is a fan favorite, Lisko said his favorite song they play is “Turn Me On,” “Outstanding’s” second track: “It’s so simple and it’s so catchy,” Lisko said. “It’s fun to sing and it’s fun to play.”

Lisko’s mix of glam rock and punk styles is unique to the current scene. The Turbo Lovers have the gift of being able to stay true to the ‘80s glam rock style while sliding in a bit of today’s rock.

“As much as we don’t fit in, I’m glad we don’t,” Lisko said. “Around here, anyway, we’re kind of different. We can play with punk bands, metal bands, just about any band.”

Lisko said one of the tracks from “Outstanding” may be on the upcoming “Fistful of Rock ‘N’ Roll” compilation. Sal Canzonieri, guitarist for Electric Frankenstein, has produced these punk-rock compilations in the past, mixing smaller and bigger bands. Lisko said he does not know which track will be used on the compilation, or when the expected release date is.

“It’s good exposure,” Lisko said. “That’s definitely the crowd we would want to hear our music.”

Angelo Scordo plays bass on the album, as well as in Turbo Lovers. Josh Owens is the drummer credited on the album, but recently, he was replaced in the band by Jeremy Koerber. Lisko said Koerber was formerly in Rebreather, Favorite Action Hero, where he played guitar, and Low Divide, where he played bass.

“He can play everything,” Lisko said. “He’s very straight forward and hits really hard, which is something we haven’t had in the past.”

On Halloween, Turbo Lovers will be playing a show at the Royal Oaks with CosmoSonics from Pittsburgh. Lisko said they’ve played with Cosmosonics before at the 31st Street Pub in Pittsburgh, and the two bands’ sounds are very similar, comparing CosmoSonics to Faster Pussy Cat and Hanoi Rocks. It’s an 18+ show and cover is $5.

That night, Turbo Lovers will be sure to supply you with a full set, complete with Lisko lighting his guitar on fire. He said he stole it from The Unband, the ‘80s hair metal band who is recognized today for their 2001 song, “Geez Louise” on the Super Troopers sound track.

“I didn’t do it for a while, but I brought it back,” Lisko said. “It’s toned down. Great White burnt down the club, so you can’t do as much as you used to.”

As far as the band’s music and stage show, Lisko said the band members do most of it for themselves. He said when he would go out in Youngstown on the weekends, there weren’t any bands playing the music he wanted to hear, so he started doing it himself.

“It’d be great if we were the next AC/DC, but we’re not going to be,” Lisko said. “If you’re a musician in Youngstown, you have to do it for yourself, you have to do it for fun.”